Flood mapping has been updated for a number of Macedon Ranges townships.
The North Central Catchment Management Authority has updated flood modelling for Malmsbury, Tylden, Lauriston, Kyneton and Carlsruhe townships.
This updated review builds upon existing flood studies completed in the areas in 2019 and 2020, after Geoscience Australia changed its recommendations when considering the effects of climate change in flood risk estimation.
Macedon Ranges council endorsed the review at its May council meeting.
As part of its review, North Central CMA has requested council update its planning scheme to reflect the revised flood risk for these areas. This mapping considers factors like flood depth, velocity, natural storage, flood duration, warning time and climate change.
The revised studies recommend updating existing Land Subject to Inundation Overlays and introducing Floodway Overlay to parts of Kyneton and Carlsruhe where there is a higher flood risk.
As part of the motion, council has deferred its authority as the planning authority of the Macedon Ranges Planning Scheme Amendment, deferring the role to the planning minister. It will also utilise the Flood-related Amendments Standing Advisory Committee to review unresolved submissions.
Cr Jennifer Anderson moved the recommended motion, and said while council will not be the authority overseeing the process, they will remain involved.
“We understand that for some people if the mapping changes and it shows their place may be more flooded, it may create some anxiety and concerns, but it is very important work, particularly for council so we can make sure that in the future, we’ve got good land use planning,” she said.
“Although this standing advisory committee is new, we won’t be the responsible authority making the decision. We will be watching very closely what the state government is doing and encouraging our residents we know who have been in contact with us about what the process is.
“We hope this process runs smoothly as it is a much more effective way of doing it, and it is very important to get these flood overlays into the planning scheme to assist new homeowners, old homeowners and us as the council as land planners.”
